coincidental

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​den·​tal (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 

1

: resulting from a coincidence

a coincidental resemblance

2

: occurring or existing at the same time

coincidental deaths

Synonyms

• coincident
• concurrent
• synchronous
• synchronic

Examples of coincidental in a Sentence

The fact that he and his boss went to the same college was purely coincidental.

the nearly coincidental deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa

Recent Examples on the Web

The choice of name was coincidental but Lee and Kirby were anxious to avoid any connection to radical politics. —Ekow Eshun july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025

This incident came during an ugly coincidental 72-hour period involving a trio of former Cowboys players. —Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2025

The visual allusion to the catastrophic collapse of the Dutch tulip market in 1637 was wholly coincidental. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 May 2025

Any resemblance to actual places, events or persons – living or deceased – is purely coincidental and unintentional. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

coincident + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coincidental

• developmental
• environmental
• experimental
• intersegmental
• nongovernmental
• transcontinental
• unsentimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental

Kids Definition

coincidental

adjective

co·​in·​ci·​den·​tal (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈdent-ᵊl 

1

: resulting from a coincidence

a coincidental resemblance

2

: occurring or existing at the same time

coincidentally

-ˈdent-lē

-ᵊl-ē

adverb